The cause of the crash is still under investigation, but the driver was arrested on charges of driving while intoxicated, vehicular assault and unlawful taking of a means of conveyance, Delaune said.

Richard Jones, 55, of Eatontown, one of the restaurant's co-owners, was in the basement right below where the car crashed.

"We heard a loud crash and immediately came upstairs," Jones said. "The seats are right at the window where the impact occurred. So there were some people who were pushed. The seats actually moved as the window -- it's a framed window -- came into the building."

Jones said the crash could have been much worse, noting the car had not fully entered his restaurant.

"It was 'all the ribs you can eat' night," Jones said. "Some of the people were like, 'Can I get a couple of more ribs before I leave?'"

Jones expects the restaurant to be open again for business in a couple of weeks.